street lights

Later today, road crews will shut down a 15-block stretch of a major arterial in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. For three nights, the city is testing the use of new LED lighting to replace old-fashioned street lamps.

The study is part of a regional effort that could set the standard for more energy efficient streetlights across the country.

Those quaint streetlights that grace some neighborhood business districts in Seattle may be history. Seattle City Light wants to limit the installation of decorative streetlights in the future. This comes in the wake of the city’s ongoing inspection of light poles, some of which have been emitting dangerous levels of electricity.

Seattle’s ongoing inspection of streetlights has turned up more dangerous structures. But city officials insist the potential harm to people and pets is minimal.

Seattle City Light began testing all 30 thousand metal lights and sidewalk covers after a dog was electrocuted on Queen Anne Hill in November. The metal plate the dog stepped on was emitting 90 volts of electricity. Frayed wires were the problem.